Stephen Nover
NBA Apr 25 '14
8:10p Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards
Take: Chicago Bulls +3-105
Aided by the return of Nene, the Wizards have emerged as a serious threat to pull off this first-round series upset. Washington, though, actually has been better on the road than at home.
The Wizards covered 65 percent of their away matchups compared to covering only 42 percent at Verizon Center. The Bulls are above .500 on the road, a well-coached, gutty squad that plays much better defense than Washington.
Chicago ranked No. 1 in fewest points allowed and No. 2 in defensive field goal percentage. Washington has put up at least 100 points in each of the first two games, although the Bulls held the Wizards to 91 points during regulation in Game 2 before losing 101-99 in overtime. Chicago is 12-2 ATS the following game after allowing 100 points in its previous game.
I am going to take the points with the Bulls in this must-win spot. I do concede the Wizards are better than perceived. They were laying in the weeds. But Chicago is the more playoff-tested foe, is superior defensively and the Wizards have proven disappointing at home.
This has been a road team series with the visitor covering the past six times. Chicago is 6-2 ATS during its last eight trips to Washington.
-= TOP PLAY =-
NBA Apr 25 '14
10:40p Houston Rockets vs Portland Trailblazers
Take: Total 216 un-107
LaMarcus Aldridge is a star. But he's been unconscious the first two games scoring 46 and 43 points, respectively, including making 18 of 28 shots from the floor in Game 2. He has made 13 of 18 shots from beyond 10 feet.
This hot shooting can't continue. Houston has too many good defenders, including two of the best in the league in center Dwight Howard and guard Patrick Beverly.
Not surprisingly the first two games of the series have gone Over. However, both matchups were lucky to go Over. They should have been Under. It took overtime to push Game 1 above the total. It looked like Game 2 was going to go under, too, but 17 points were scored during the final 67 seconds in a flurry of free throws.
The Rockets are in must-win territory down 0-2. Expect a huge intense, defensive effort from them. This is what James Harden was quoted as saying, “Game 3 is our season. If we don’t win that one, it will be really hard to get a win in Game 4.”
Harden has been as cold as Aldridge has been hot missing 33 of 47 shots from the floor in the first two games. Harden may not get things turned around either. He's been cold for a while now as he finished the regular season shooting 36.1 percent from the floor during the last five games.
Neither team has any bench scoring so that's a plus, too, for the under.
NBA Apr 25 '14
8:10p Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards
Take: Chicago Bulls +3-105
Aided by the return of Nene, the Wizards have emerged as a serious threat to pull off this first-round series upset. Washington, though, actually has been better on the road than at home.
The Wizards covered 65 percent of their away matchups compared to covering only 42 percent at Verizon Center. The Bulls are above .500 on the road, a well-coached, gutty squad that plays much better defense than Washington.
Chicago ranked No. 1 in fewest points allowed and No. 2 in defensive field goal percentage. Washington has put up at least 100 points in each of the first two games, although the Bulls held the Wizards to 91 points during regulation in Game 2 before losing 101-99 in overtime. Chicago is 12-2 ATS the following game after allowing 100 points in its previous game.
I am going to take the points with the Bulls in this must-win spot. I do concede the Wizards are better than perceived. They were laying in the weeds. But Chicago is the more playoff-tested foe, is superior defensively and the Wizards have proven disappointing at home.
This has been a road team series with the visitor covering the past six times. Chicago is 6-2 ATS during its last eight trips to Washington.
-= TOP PLAY =-
NBA Apr 25 '14
10:40p Houston Rockets vs Portland Trailblazers
Take: Total 216 un-107
LaMarcus Aldridge is a star. But he's been unconscious the first two games scoring 46 and 43 points, respectively, including making 18 of 28 shots from the floor in Game 2. He has made 13 of 18 shots from beyond 10 feet.
This hot shooting can't continue. Houston has too many good defenders, including two of the best in the league in center Dwight Howard and guard Patrick Beverly.
Not surprisingly the first two games of the series have gone Over. However, both matchups were lucky to go Over. They should have been Under. It took overtime to push Game 1 above the total. It looked like Game 2 was going to go under, too, but 17 points were scored during the final 67 seconds in a flurry of free throws.
The Rockets are in must-win territory down 0-2. Expect a huge intense, defensive effort from them. This is what James Harden was quoted as saying, “Game 3 is our season. If we don’t win that one, it will be really hard to get a win in Game 4.”
Harden has been as cold as Aldridge has been hot missing 33 of 47 shots from the floor in the first two games. Harden may not get things turned around either. He's been cold for a while now as he finished the regular season shooting 36.1 percent from the floor during the last five games.
Neither team has any bench scoring so that's a plus, too, for the under.
